Sturgill Simpson is currently on tour as his dance rock alter ego, Johnny Blue Skies. But if it weren't for the late, great Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, the "Turtles All the Way Down" singer might not be touring at all.
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How Did Bob Weir Get Sturgill Simpson To Tour Again?
As PEOPLE reported, Simpson talked about his relationship with Weir while performing as Johnny Blue Skies at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California, on Tuesday, Sep. 15.
Simpson once planned to end his touring career, but Weir changed his mind.
"Bob pulled me out of it. He didn't know this. I never really got to tell him fully," Simpson told the audience. Weir died on Jan. 10 at age 78.
"I didn't know if I would ever tour again," Simpson added. "In '23-24, I went to Mexico and sat in with him for about three hours, two nights, and came home and called my agent. I said, 'I want to go on tour.'
"That was three years ago, and this has been the best three years of my life and my career playing with these guys. And I owe a lot of that to Bob Weir."
Simpson also talked about how he learned of Weir's death from his wife.
"I just thought, 'Well, of course he's gone, 'cause what the f*** else could go wrong this year?'"
Simpson also paid tribute to the Grateful Dead guitarist by wearing one of his bolo ties on stage. After giving the legend's wife and daughter, who were in the audience, a shout-out, he told them, "I'm gonna wear this b**** the rest of the tour, and we just want to say we love you!"
Weir Also Helped Another Country Artist
Wynonna Judd was also deeply affected by Weir's death. Years ago, he joined Wynonna's band to play a set filled with classics from both the Grateful Dead and The Judds, including a cover of "Why Not Me." They later recorded the Grateful Dead classic "Ramble on Rose" in 2020. He also paid tribute to Wynonna's mother, Naomi, at her funeral.
"Sir Robert got the call & showed up with no questions asked," Wynonna wrote in a social media tribute. "No publicity, no cameras, not even an expectation for him to take the stage—but he insisted on showing up in the best way he knew how. He joined the stage with my family, friends, and musical peers. I will FOREVER honor the friendship that turned into family."
